From San Francisco to Los Angeles, see the famous sights of California on this spectacular vacation. Enjoy the excitement and faster pace of San Francisco and Los Angeles, and take a deep breath and slow down in the mountain areas of Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park. If you’re interested in seeing some of California’s amazing scenery, this California tour offers you a chance to admire some of its best. Witness the scenery in stunning Lake Tahoe with the sparkling blue water surrounded by the Sierra Mountains. Marvel at the spectacular alpine scenery in Yosemite National Park with its waterfalls, mountain peaks, ice-sculpted domes, and meadows. Sit back and watch the views of famous Pebble Beach Golf Course, the dramatic Pacific coastline, and the Lone Cyprus on 17-Mile Drive, one of the most scenic drives in the world.Visit Santa Barbara and Hearst Castle in Sam Simeon, built by William Randolph Hearst as his private retreat. Once only accessible to celebrities and famous guests, enjoy a tour highlighting this impressive 123-acre estate. Also visit Solvang, a quaint Danish village founded in 1911 by Danish educators to maintain their heritage. Wander through the town with charming shops featuring Danish imports and picturesque buildings and windmills. Globus has arranged a special treat here...a coffee and Danish specialty at a local bakery. Another special experience offered by Globus is a visit and dinner at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, with its sea otters, seals, sharks, penguins, and more. All of this and more await you on this California tour. Be sure to pack your camera and get ready for a fabulous vacation!

Meals

Meals & Itinerary

Itinerary

Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description.

Day 1 Arrive in San Francisco

Welcome to the Golden State! At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.

Day 2 San Francisco

Enjoy morning sightseeing in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. See Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the Presidio. Also see Twin Peaks, Fisherman’s Wharf, and much more. Next, visit the JAPANESE TEA GARDEN, the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. Learn about the history of the park and enjoy time to explore the five acres of native Japanese plants, serene koi ponds, pagodas, and more. Afterward, journey across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. Enjoy waterfront views, breathtaking scenery, and a vibrant downtown area with a large variety of shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Return to San Francisco by FERRY and enjoy incredible skyline views. Still plenty of time for pursuing your favorite interests and activities—ride the world-famous cable cars, shop in Union Square, or visit the Museum of Modern Art. This evening, enjoy a dinner at a local restaurant.

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 3 San Francisco–Lake Tahoe

From the Pacific coast, travel to stunning Lake Tahoe, surrounded by the Sierra Mountains. There’s plenty of time to explore this alpine lake, the largest in North America and also one of the highest. Even though the average depth of the lake is 989 feet, it is one of the clearest and purest bodies of water in the world!

Breakfast

Day 4 Lake Tahoe–Yosemite National Park

Southward through the Sierra Nevadas to YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK. Yosemite has innumerable lakes, meadows, ice-sculpted domes, forests, waterfalls, and unspoiled alpine scenery. Descend into the 4,000-foot valley, where you’ll board an open-air TRAM to explore the famous sites of El Capitan, Cathedral Spires, Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome. The scenery is nothing short of spectacular!

Breakfast

Day 5 Yosemite National Park–Carmel–Monterey

A high point on today’s journey is the beautiful 17-MILE DRIVE, with views of famous Pebble Beach Golf Course and the tenacious Lone Cypress. Enjoy a visit to the resort town of Carmel, a popular haven for writers, artists, and celebrities. Then, on to Monterey and Cannery Row, immortalized by John Steinbeck in his novel of the same name. Head to the wharf for a visit to the world-famous MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM, followed by a special dinner here overlooking the bay.

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 6 Monterey–Big Sur–San Simeon–Pismo Beach

This morning, journey south through Big Sur to San Simeon and visit HEARST CASTLE, the opulent mansion of wealthy newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, which houses splendid antiques, art treasures, and exotic possessions purchased at an estimated $50 million. The tour shows off the highlights of the impressive 123-acre estate. Then, journey down the coast to the seaside town of Pismo Beach.

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 7 Pismo Beach–Solvang–Santa Barbara–Los Angeles

Visit downtown Solvang, where Denmark has been recreated with picturesque buildings and windmills. Enjoy coffee and a DANISH SPECIALTY at a local bakery, with free time to browse through the charming shops featuring Danish imports. Travel through the Santa Ynez Mountains to beautiful Santa Barbara, where the Spanish influence is apparent in quaint whitewashed and tile-roofed buildings. Visit the impressive 200-year-old MISSION with its world-famous twin bell towers. Afterward, enjoy a leisurely stroll along the wharf. Next stop is metropolitan Los Angeles, the motion picture capital of the world.

Breakfast

Day 8 Los Angeles

Morning sightseeing of this gigantic metropolis takes you from Olvera Street—the oldest thoroughfare in the city—to Hollywood. Step into the shoeprints of famous movie stars at TCL Chinese Theatre, and see Sunset Strip and Rodeo Drive. Later, visit the GETTY MUSEUM, housing a collection of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner. Wonderful conversation and cuisine make the perfect finale for your vacation.

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 9 Los Angeles

The tour ends this morning after breakfast with guests departing on individual schedules. Airport transfers are provided.

Breakfast

Tour Director

With Globus, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of your Tour Director. Averaging over a decade... we’d like you to meet a Tour Director, who is representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

LINDA PEREZ

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

Years of Experience: 26

“By the time I was 11 years old, I knew I wanted to be a Tour Director. My parents loved to share photos of their trips with me, and they would tell me, "You should do that; you'd be great at it!" They planted a seed that grew. On my 21st birthday, I traveled on a 12-country, 30-day tour of Europe. Six months later, I enrolled in tour directing school, and I've been in this career for over 30 years. My travel advice is simple: enjoy the experiences that are unique to the places you are visiting.”

Pismo Beach

Hilton Garden Inn Pismo Beach

Central and contemporary, the Hilton Garden Inn San Luis Obispo/Pismo Beach hotel is nestled along the scenic central California coast.

Hotel Amenities

Hot Tub

Concierge desk

Pool

Dry Cleaning

Bar/Lounge

Business Center

Parking/Valet

Restaurant On-Site

Fitness Room

Gift Shop

Free WiFi

Elevator

Room Amenities

Television

Alarm Clock

In-Room Safe

Desk

Phone

Hair Dryer

Voicemail

Climate Control

Iron/Ironing Board

Coffee Maker

Non-smoking Rooms

Room Service

Air Conditioning

Cable/Satellite

Complimentary Toiletries

Internet Access

Los Angeles

The L.A. Hotel Downtown

Superior First-Class

333 S Figueroa StLos Angeles, CA United States

The L.A. Hotel Downtown, located in the financial, entertainment and theater district of downtown Los Angeles, is a 14-story hotel with award-winning architectural design, mirrored facade and glass-enclosed atrium.

Hotel Amenities

Parking/Valet

Fitness Room

Restaurant On-Site

Elevator

Currency Exchange

Business Center

Pool

ATM

Gift Shop

Bar/Lounge

Dry Cleaning

Concierge desk

Spa Services

Luggage Storage

Room Amenities

Climate Control

Internet Access

Room Service

Complimentary Newspaper

Disabled Access / Rooms

Non-smoking Rooms

Hair Dryer

Phone

Mini-bar

Television

Complimentary Toiletries

Air Conditioning

Desk

Cable/Satellite

Voicemail

In-Room Safe

Iron/Ironing Board

Coffee Maker

Know Before You Go

These Know Before You Go travel tips are designed with you in mind, with helpful hints to help you prepare for and enjoy your escorted vacation. They are your guide to getting ready and contain general information on travel documentation, customs, and the country/countries you will be visiting, including budgeting, transportation, climate, languages, and much more. With Globus, you benefit from our experience.

* The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Globus).